James Pearce-Smith
Call 2002 (Inner Temple)
Qualifications MA (Cantab), Admitted as a Solicitor 1994
Professional Memberships Chancery Bar Association
Practice Overview
James, a former solicitor, is an experienced litigator who specialises in commercial and property disputes. His
practice includes shareholder and partnership disputes, construction disputes and insolvency, and he is often
instructed in complex disputes which span more than one of these disciplines. He has particular expertise in
professional negligence claims. He also deals with more traditional chancery work, such as disputes in relation
to trusts and wills.
Sources say he is "extremely clever and an excellent advocate who presents clearly and persuasively; he's the
kind of guy you want on your side."Chambers UK 2011
Areas of Practice
Construction and Engineering
James has acted in a number of construction disputes. His clients include national house-builders, independent
builders and employers. He has appeared in trials and arbitrations, and in relation to the enforcement of
adjudication decisions.
Examples of James' recent work include:
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Jones & Maher v Jones (2011) - acting for the employer in a claim relating to work to renovate a listed
building. 1 day trial in the High Court (Cardiff TCC) on a preliminary issue regarding the scope of the
builder’s duty of care.
Russell Brickwork v Lavender (current) - acting for the employer in an arbitration concerning the
construction of a new home.
Breakspear v Skinner (2010) - acting for the employer in a dispute concerning the construction of a large
pond. 7 day trial in the County Court.
Munt v Lloyd (2009) - acting for the builder in a claim concerning works to renovate and extend a
private dwelling. 9 day trial in the High Court (Bristol TCC).
Waterhouse v Bakri (2009) - acting for the builder in a claim concerning work to renovate a private
dwelling, culminating in a 3 day trial in the county court.
Cedar v Zenith (2009) - acting for the employer in an application concerning the enforcement of an
adjudication award. 2 day hearing in the High Court.
Dudman v Taylor Wimpey (2008) - acting for house-builder in dispute concerning the construction of a
new house.
Commercial Dispute Resolution
James acts for businesses in a wide range of commercial disputes. His clients range from SMEs to supermarkets
and cover many industries, including the agricultural sector. He also has considerable experience of commercial
disputes from his time as a solicitor.
Examples of James’ recent work include:
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Airbus v Withey [2014] EWHC 1126 (QB) - acting for Airbus in a £1m claim against a former employee
and other parties.
Clear Edge v Elliot [2011] EWHC 3376 (QB) - acting for 3 former employees in a claim to prevent them
joining a rival company.
Dunford v Cogent (2010) - acting for four farmers against a supplier of defective bull semen. James
appeared for the farmers in a 10 day trial at the Mercantile Court in Bristol.
Somerfield v Inbev (2011) - acting for a supermarket in a claim against a supplier.
V8 Club v Seraly (2010) - acting for a group of businessmen suing the directors of a company on their
guarantees. 7 day trial in the County Court.
Leycroft v AE David (2009) - acting for defendant company in a dispute concerning a joint venture
between two companies. 4 day trial in the High Court.
Clark v Thomas (2008) - representing the claimants in an 8 day trial in the Cardiff Mercantile Court in a
dispute between investors/directors in relation to a plastic-recycling business.
Partnership
James regularly advises partners in relation to partnership disputes. He has also given a lecture on the treatment
of post-dissolution profits.
Examples of James' recent work include:
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Ballard v Ryder (current) - acting for a partner in a partnership dispute centring on a claim that property
belongs to the partnership rather than to individual partners.
Parsons v Parsons (2010) - acting for a partner in a dispute concerning a family partnership which
operated a hotel. 7 day trial in the County Court.
Insolvency
James regularly acts and advises in insolvency matters. He has acted for both companies and individuals in
applications to set aside statutory demands and to obtain injunctions to prevent presentation or advertisement
of petitions, and has appeared at the final hearings of petitions. He advises on issues arising in insolvencies, such
as claims by liquidators to trustees to set aside prior transactions. In addition he has acted for shareholders
bringing winding-up petitions in conjunction with unfair prejudice petitions.
Examples of James' recent work include:
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Uppal v van Oppen (2012) - acting for respondent to bankruptcy petition, resulting in petition being
dismissed.
Green v Steed & Steed (2011) - acting for bankrupt in claim against solicitor for failing to take steps to
prevent the bankruptcy.
Gedge v Cresswell (2010) - acting for a shareholder in unfair prejudice and winding-up petition
concerning a family company formed to invest in property.
Company
James has a thorough background in company law from his time as a solicitor. He regularly acts for shareholders
in shareholder disputes, including unfair prejudice petitions and disputes concerning share purchase agreements
and shareholder agreements.
Examples of James' recent work include:
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Huxtable v Jury (2011) - acting for a shareholder in unfair prejudice petition concerning a company
formed as a joint venture to operate a waste disposal site. Claim settled before trial.
Gedge v Cresswell (2010) - acting for a shareholder in unfair prejudice petition concerning a family
company formed to invest in property. Claim settled before trial.
Professional Negligence
James has particular expertise in professional negligence disputes as he specialised in these disputes as a solicitor
(see ‘Background’ below). He generally acts for claimants, although he is sometimes instructed to advise
professionals as to their position. He currently acts for a number of major lenders, including Nationwide BS,
Platform Home Loans, Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland in claims against solicitors and surveyors. He is on
Platform Home Loans’ panel of approved counsel.
James also acts for claimants in non-lender claims, especially in claims against solicitors for negligent
conveyancing, negligent advice in relation to business agreements, and the negligent conduct of litigation. He
also acts in claims against other professionals, such as accountants, surveyors and architects.
James has advised or settled pleadings in a large number of professional negligence claims (although none of
them has reached trial).
Property and Real Estate
James regularly acts and advises in property disputes, ranging from commercial landlord & tenant disputes to
boundary and easement disputes.
Examples of James' recent work include:
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Lytton v Gurman (2011) - acting for private lender in claim to enforce a charge over a property. 3 day
trial in the County Court.
Sawyer v Mann (2010) - acting for a farmer in a dispute concerning a right of way over a private drive to
the adjoining farm. The issues included the construction of a deed granting the right and the obtaining
th
of a right by prescription. The claim settled on the 7 day of a trial in the High Court.
Moon v Mountwaine (2010) - acting for the purchaser of a house in a dispute concerning an overage
clause and an obligation to apply for planning permission to develop the property. 3 day trial in the
County Court.
MacLeod v Brooks (2010) - acting for house owners in a dispute concerning a boundary, a parking
easement and a right of way over part of their garden. Issues included the construction of a deed, the
existence of a quasi-easement and prescription. 3 day trial in the County Court.
Pearce v Hunns (2010) - acting for a property owner in a boundary dispute. 2 day trial in the County
Court.
Kerdene v Purnull-Exell (2008) - acting for landowner in a claim for possession of land which the
defendant claimed to have acquired by adverse possession. 2 day trial in the County Court.
Recommendations
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"James assists clients with a wide range of shareholder disputes. He represents individuals who are both
directors and shareholders of companies. 'His drafting is very clever, absolutely novel and very clear.' 'He
does more than is asked of him.'" Chambers UK, Company (2015)
"James specialises in large commercial disputes and professional negligence claims. He has additional
experience in the construction and engineering sector, and has represented independent builders, employers
and national house builders. 'He's very thorough, very good with clients and very user-friendly.' 'He's able to
turn matters round very quickly. He has a very logical mind and is very bright.'" Chambers UK, Commercial
Dispute Resolution (2015)
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"James focuses his practice on commercial litigation and property disputes. He has considerable expertise in
professional negligence claims, having practised as a solicitor in this area for several years, and is often
engaged by lenders to pursue claims against solicitors and surveyors. 'He is well prepared, knowledgeable
and good on his feet.' 'He has a very logical mind; he's very bright. If you were going for a very tricky point
of law you should probably go to James.'" Chambers UK, Professional Negligence (2015)
‚James specialises in large commercial disputes as well as professional negligence claims. He is also adept at
handling company law disputes. ‘In Bristol he is one of the first names to instruct on a commercial matter.’
‘He is extremely responsive and gets to the nub of issues quickly.’ ‚ Commercial Dispute Resolution
(2014)
‚James and has developed a niche specialism in professional negligence lender claims. ‘He was a solicitor
prior to being called to the Bar, and that experience really shows through. ‘He is a very good technician – he
clearly drills down into the detail of claims and masters the technical details, and is hugely effective.’ "
Chambers UK, Professional Negligence (2014)
"James is very intelligent and friendly and very good at cross-examination." Chambers UK, Company
(2014)
"James is technically very impressive, provides clear and concise advice, and is approachable. ‘A very good
advocate.’ ‘A very intelligent barrister with good command of detail.’ " Chambers UK, Construction
(2014)
‚James offers pragmatic advice and technical know-how. He is well known for his expertise in litigating
shareholder and partnership disputes.‛ Chambers UK, Company (2013)
‚James is a former solicitor who is ‘very forensic, clear in his analysis’ and ‘will certainly go the extra distance
to help the client.’ Recently, he acted for the claimant in Khan v Corby, a case surrounding a claim for
possession of a property pursuant to a private mortgage.‛ Chambers UK, Real Estate Litigation (2013)
‚James is ‘someone who grasps the detail very quickly, and can get his head around the issues’ involved in a
case. His practice covers a wide range of commercial, property, and construction disputes.‛ Chambers UK,
Construction (2013)
‚James handles a wide range of commercial work, but is particularly strong on banking litigation work. His
‘diligence and the rapid pace with which he turns around paperwork’ impress solicitors, and sources say he
‘gets a grip on detail very quickly.’ " Chambers UK, Commercial Dispute Resolution (2013)
‚James is deemed a ‘thoroughly commercial and pragmatic barrister.’ He has a strong reputation on the
circuit for his chancery and commercial practice, which he combines with extensive experience of
professional negligence.‛ Chambers UK, Commercial Dispute Resolution (2012)
‚James is praised for his ‘sense of commercial acumen and knowledge of the law,’ which ‘makes difficult
issues more digestible for the clients.’" Chambers UK, Company (2012)
"James is very bright, and a good advocate with strong cross-examination skills" Legal 500, commercial,
banking and insolvency (2014)
"James has strong cross-examination skills" Legal 500, construction, planning and environment (2014)
"James is a very able former solicitor." Legal 500, commercial, insolvency and property (2013)
‚James is ‘very bright’ and is ‘good with clients.’ ‚ Legal 500 (2012)
Background
James won the top scholarship to Radley College. He read history at Pembroke College, Cambridge, graduating
in 1990 with a 2.1. He trained as a solicitor with Travers Smith Braithwaite, and joined Dibb Lupton Broomhead
on qualification in 1994 where he specialised in professional negligence claims against solicitors and valuers as a
member of DLB’s building societies team. In 1996 he joined the commercial litigation department of Burges
Salmon where he specialised in high-value, complex commercial and corporate disputes, as well as continuing to
act in professional negligence claims. He was seconded to Nationwide BS’s in-house legal team for 4 months in
1997. He had conduct of two of the claims in Nationwide BS v Balmer Radmore [1999] PNLR 606. He was also
a member of the Burges Salmon team which represented First Great Western in the public inquiry into the
Southall train crash. He left Burges Salmon to join St John’s and was called to the bar in 2002.
Other interests
James lives with his wife and two small children in Gloucestershire. When time allows, James plays cricket for
Malmesbury Cricket Club (where he can still just about hold an end up) and hockey for Westbury & UB Hockey
Club (where he is sinking back down through the teams and away from the forward line).
Contact details
james.pearce-smith@stjohnschambers.co.uk